In Juba, South Sudan, 210 Indian peacekeepers were awarded the United Nations (UN) Medal. They included six women and seven staff officers serving with the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS). India is the second-largest contributor of uniformed personnel to UN peacekeeping, with over 4,200 personnel deployed worldwide in 2026, and has sent more than 2 lakh personnel to 49 of the 71 UN peacekeeping missions set up since 1948. UNMISS was created in 2011 after South Sudan became independent and works on protecting civilians, humanitarian assistance and the peace process.